Method for inducing antibody formation

Abstract

Antigenic substances having amino and/or carboxyl groups are bound covalently, with preservation of their electrochemical state, that is with preservation of the amino and/or carboxyl groups, to a particulate carrier which is not decomposable in the body of a vertebrate; such substances are introduced as an antigen into the body of a vertegrate to provoke an immune response of high specificity and long duration.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for inducing antibody formation in the living body of a vertebrate, which method comprises immobilizing a soluble antigenic substance containing amino and/or carboxyl groups by covalently binding it with oxirane groups present on a particulate carrier which is not decomposable in the vertebrate body, whereby a particulate antigen is formed wherein the amino and/or carboxyl groups of said antigenic substance are preserved, and then introducing said antigen into a vertebrate body. 
     
     
       2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said carrier comprises, at least in its outermost layer reacting with said antigenic substance (1) from 1 to 88 weight percent of a monomer having binding activity and containing an oxirane group,   (2) from 0 to 50 weight percent of a cross-linking monomer having two or more carbon-to-carbon double bonds polymerizable by the use of free radical initiators in the molecule;   (3) from 0 to 99 weight percent of a hydrophilic monomer which forms at least 10 percent aqueous solutions at 25° C.; and   (4) from 0 to 50 weight percent of a hydrophobic monomer which form less than 10 percent aqueous solutions at 25° C.   
     
     
       3. A method as in claim 1 wherein said antigenic substance is bound to a particulate carrier having an average particle diameter of 0.01 to 100 microns. 
     
     
       4. A method as in claim 1 wherein said antigenic substance is a hapten containing one or more amino and/or carboxyl groups. 
     
     
       5. A method as in claim 4 wherein said antigenic substance is bound to a carrier in the form of an aqueous latex having a particle size of 0.01 to 2 microns. 
     
     
       6. A method as in claim 1 wherein said antigenic substance has a protein or peptide structure. 
     
     
       7. A method as in claim 1 wherein said particulate antigen is introduced into the body of a warm blooded vertebrate. 
     
     
       8. A method as in claim 7 wherein said particulate antigen is introduced subcutaneously into the body of the vertebrate. 
     
     
       9. A method as in claim 7 wherein said particulate antigen is introduced into the body of the vertebrate as a water-in-oil emulsion.